Method and device for lifting flat products

ABSTRACT

Method of raising sheet-like products ( 2 ), in particular printed products, which are taking part in a conveying process and follow sequentially one after the other, the products ( 2 ) resting, at least in certain regions, on a conveying means ( 1 ) during the conveying process, it being the case that, for at least a period of time of the raising operation, gravitational force being overcome in the process, the products ( 2 ) are pivoted actively about an axis (B) which extends essentially parallel to the direction (A) in which the conveying process is oriented immediately prior to the raising operation.

[0001] The invention relates to a method of, and an apparatus for,raising sheet-like products, in particular printed products, which aretaking part in a conveying process and follow sequentially one after theother, the products resting, at least in certain regions, on a conveyingmeans during the conveying process.

[0002] In certain application cases, it is necessary for productstransported, for example, on a conveying belt to be turned through 180°in relation to an axis parallel to the conveying direction. This isachieved according to the prior art, for example, by so-called “rotarybelts” in which the products are retained between two belts which aretwisted parallel to one another through 180° along the conveyingdirection. In order to avoid damage to the products and to ensurereliable turning, these rotary belts have to extend over a relativelylarge region of the conveying belt, which is disadvantageous in respectof the amount of space taken up by the turning apparatus.

[0003] In other application cases, it is necessary for the conveyingdirection of products transported, for example, on a conveying belt tobe changed abruptly by a predetermined angle, in particular by an angleof 90°. According to the prior art, this is achieved, for example, inthat running at the end of the first conveying belt is a secondconveying belt, which extends at right angles to the first conveyingbelt and of which the conveying plane is arranged beneath the conveyingplane of the first conveying belt, with the result that the products candrop onto the second conveying belt and thus change their conveyingdirection by 90°. It is disadvantageous here, for example, that theproducts drop between the two conveying planes in an uncontrolledmanner, which may result in disruption. It is further disadvantageousthat for example, if when the conveying direction is changed, upstreamor downstream, the products are also to be turned, this can only beachieved by means of separate turning apparatuses or rotary belts, whichin turn is disadvantageous in respect of the amount of space taken up.The same applies if when the conveying direction is changed, upstream ordownstream, the products are to be rotated about an axis runningperpendicularly to the conveying plane or a combination of theabovementioned operations of changing the conveying direction, turningand/or rotating are to take place in any desired time sequence.

[0004] It is an object of the invention to develop a method of the typementioned in the introduction such that products supplied sequentiallyby a conveying means can be processed further individually with reducedmechanical outlay, the intention also being, in particular, to achievethe situation where the conveying means is only overlapped to a slightextent, if at all, by the apparatus for raising the products.

[0005] This object is achieved according to the invention in that,during at least a period of time of the raising operation, gravitationalforce being overcome in the process, the products are pivoted activelyabout an axis which extends essentially parallel to the direction inwhich the conveying process is oriented immediately prior to the raisingoperation.

[0006] At the beginning of the raising operation, a redirection of themovement of the products thus takes place to the effect that the forwardmovement brought about by the conveying process is slowed down, and alaterally oriented pivoting movement commences during this slowing-downoperation. For this pivoting movement, which is oriented laterally inrelation to the direction of the conveying process, the product has tobe fed potential energy at least for a period of time, with the resultthat it is possible for the products to be pivoted upward during theabove-mentioned period of time. Once the abovementioned period of timehas elapsed, the products thus have higher potential energy than priorto this period of time.

[0007] Since the pivoting of the products commences in each case when aproduct arrives at a defined position or at the end of the conveyingmeans, all the products are pivoted individually one after the other,with the result that, with products following one after the otherquickly or in imbricated formation, a fan-like structure is producedduring the pivoting operation, each fan element of said structure beingformed by precisely one product in each case, with the result that it iseasily possible for the individually fanned-out products to be furtherprocessed individually. This is because, once the products have executedthe pivoting movement according to the invention, they can easily be,for example, gripped and removed individually from their individuallyfanned-out structure or deposited individually on a further conveyingmeans.

[0008] Instead of individual products being conveyed and pivoted, it isalso possible for groups of products to be conveyed and/or pivoted ineach case. The product groups here may be formed during the conveyingoperation preceding the pivoting operation, with the result that eventhe conveying operation takes place in groups. It is also possible,however, for the product groups only to be formed immediately prior tocommencement of the pivoting operation or even during the pivotingoperation, which means that, shortly prior to or during the pivotingoperation, individual products following one after the other, forexample, in imbricated formation are pushed essentially congruently oneabove the other to form groups.

[0009] The pivoting movement provided according to the invention furtherachieves the situation where the transfer between two conveying meanswhich follow sequentially one after the other can take place with anextremely small amount of space being required since the two conveyingmeans only need to overlap one another slightly, this overlapping being,for example, in the order of magnitude of the longitudinal extent of aproduct in the conveying direction.

[0010] It is advantageous if the pivot axis which is decisive for thepivoting movement according to the invention coincides at leastessentially with a product edge which extends parallel to the directionin which the conveying process is oriented immediately prior to theraising operation. In this case, the products are pivoted about one oftheir edges, which, on the one hand, means that the pivoting movementcan be executed with a minimal amount of space being required and, onthe other hand, advantageously results in the products only having to beaccelerated to an unproblematic extent. In this case, the edge aboutwhich the pivoting movement takes place is advantageously notaccelerated at all in practice.

[0011] Immediately prior to the beginning of the raising operation, theproducts may be oriented horizontally or in a manner inclined inrelation to the horizontal. It is advantageous here if the products restwith their surface area on a correspondingly oriented conveying means,in particular a conveying belt.

[0012] It is likewise possible, however, to convey the products by meansof grippers, which then transfer the products, for the purpose of thepivoting operation according to the invention, to a correspondingpivoting apparatus. These grippers can retain the products, for example,at one or two edges.

[0013] Throughout the pivoting movement, the products are preferablypivoted through an angle of between 10° and 270°, the raising-operationperiod of time, over which the gravitational force is overcome, usuallyalways accounting for an angle range of between 10° and 90°. It is thuspossible according to the invention for the products first to be raisedthrough an angle range of between 10° and 90° and then to be pivoteddownward, for example assisted by gravitational force, through an anglerange of between 90° and 180°.

[0014] In order for it to be possible for the pivoting movementaccording to the invention to be executed in a defined manner, it ispossible, during this pivoting movement, for the products to be retainedat least temporarily, in particular at their leading edge, as seen inthe conveying direction, by suitable means, e.g. by supporting means orgrippers, which cause the products to pivot and pivot along with saidproducts. In particular each product here is assigned an individualgripper, of which the movement, ultimately, determines the speed of thepivoting movement of the products. Immediately prior to the beginning ofthe pivoting movement, the products may be moved, by way of theirleading edge, into the gripper by the conveying movement. It is likewisepossible for a suitable apparatus to guide the grippers, counter to theconveying movement, up to the leading edge of the products in order thento grip the latter.

[0015] It is preferred if, at the beginning of the raising operation,the products are moved, by way of their leading edge, against an inparticular stationary stop, with the result that the products, at leastin certain regions, lift off from the conveying means in the pivotingdirection. This stop thus initiates the pivoting movement according tothe invention in that, for example in a region of the leading edge ofthe products which is directed away from the pivot axis, it preventsfurther movement in the conveying direction, which results in theproducts “bulging out” upward on account of the action of frictionbetween the conveying means and products. This bulging out takes placein each case in a defined direction away from the conveying means, withthe result that the abovementioned stop triggers a controlled anddefined initiation of the pivoting movement, whereupon the rest of thepivoting movement in the upward direction can take place in a controlledmanner by way of a gripper or a suitable supporting means.

[0016] It is particularly preferred if, at the beginning of the raisingoperation, products having an overfold are only moved against a stop ofthe abovementioned type by way of the leading edge of their overfoldregion, with the result that that region of the products which islocated opposite the overfold lifts off from the overfold in thepivoting direction and the products are thus made to open. In this case,the stop thus results both in the pivoting movement being initiated andin the products being opened.

[0017] As an alternative, or in addition, to the abovedescribed stop, itis also possible to provide, in the region of the conveying means, an inparticular stationary guide element, along which the products are movedby way of their leading edge at the beginning of the raising operation.The guide element causes, at least in certain regions, the products tobe raised from the conveying means in the pivoting direction. If then astop is also provided in addition, for example at the end of the guideelement located in the conveying direction, products with an overfoldcan first of all be raised by the guide element, whereupon the raisedproducts are then opened by way of the overfold butting against thestop, with the result that the products can easily be gripped, forexample, by a three-finger gripper, in each case one finger of thegripper ending up on the two outer sides of the product and one fingerending up between the overfold region and the region located oppositethe overfold region.

[0018] During the conveying process preceding the pivoting movement, theproducts may be transported both in imbricated formation and withoutoverlapping one another. In order to implement the method according tothe invention, all that is necessary is for individual products orproduct groups to follow sequentially one after the other.

[0019] Once they have been raised into an at least essentiallyvertically oriented position, the products may each be grippedindividually by grippers, in particular at an upwardly oriented edge,and fed for further processing. It is possible here for the conveyingdirection of the corresponding gripper section to run essentiallyperpendicularly to the direction in which the conveying process isoriented immediately prior to the raising operation.

[0020] Once the products have been raised into an at least essentiallyvertically oriented position, however, it is also possible for theproducts to be pivoted downward assisted by gravitational force, itbeing possible for this pivoting operation to take place about the samepivot axis as the preceding raising operation. The downward pivotingoperation assisted by gravitational force takes place here, inparticular, through an angle range of between 90° and 180°. Followingthe downward pivoting operation, the products may be deposited on afurther conveying means or a product stack.

[0021] Particularly cost-effective functioning of the method accordingto the invention is achieved when, during the pivoting movement takingplace counter to gravitational force and/or during the pivotingmovements assisted by gravitational force, the products are processed,in particular opened, stapled, addressed, cut or the like. In this case,the pivoting movement is not just utilized for lifting off the productsfrom the conveying means; at the same time, it is also possible forprocessing to take place during the pivoting movement, time being savedin this way.

[0022] If folded products are opened during the pivoting movement, it isadvantageous if the fold region of the products ends up in the radiallyinward direction in relation to the pivoting movement. In a particularvariant of the method according to the invention, it is then possible,during the pivoting movement, for already open products to have furtherproducts inserted into them.

[0023] Following the pivoting movement according to the invention, theproducts—as has already been mentioned—may be deposited, for example, ona further conveying means. In this case, the conveying direction of thisfurther conveying means may run essentially perpendicularly, or elsealso parallel, to the direction in which the conveying process wasoriented immediately prior to the raising operation. The conveyingdirection of the products may thus be changed, for example, by 0°, 90°,180° or 270° by means of the method according to the invention. Thefurther conveying means may be designed, for example, as a grippersection, as a pocket conveyor, as a saddle conveyor, as a combinedpocket and saddle conveyor or else also as a conveying belt.

[0024] Further preferred embodiments of the method according to theinvention are described in the subclaims.

[0025] The invention is explained hereinbelow by way of exemplaryembodiments and with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0026]FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of the course taken by afirst variant of a method according to the invention,

[0027]FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of the course taken by asecond variant of a method according to the invention,

[0028]FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of the course taken by athird variant of a method according to the invention, with a first and afurther conveying means,

[0029]FIG. 4 shows a schematic illustration of a second method step of amethod according to the invention, this step being used for stackformation,

[0030]FIG. 5 shows a schematic illustration of a second method step of amethod according to the invention, incorporating an opening process witha further conveying means designed as a saddle conveyor,

[0031]FIG. 6 shows a schematic illustration of a second method step of amethod according to the invention, with a further conveying meansdesigned as a conveying belt,

[0032]FIG. 7 shows an illustration according to FIG. 6 with a conveyingbelt running in an alternative direction to FIG. 6,

[0033]FIG. 8 shows the end of a conveying means, which can be usedwithin the context of the invention, with a guide element arranged inits end region,

[0034]FIG. 9 shows the end of a conveying means, which can be usedwithin the context of the invention, with a stop arranged in its endregion,

[0035]FIG. 10 shows a schematic illustration of the course taken by amethod according to the invention, with a horizontally orientedconveying means having a stop at its end,

[0036]FIG. 11 shows a schematic illustration of the course taken by amethod according to the invention, with a detailed illustration of theopening process, and

[0037]FIG. 12 shows a schematic illustration of an opening process withalternative means to FIG. 11.

[0038]FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a conveying means 1 whichis arranged in a horizontal plane and by means of which printed products2 are moved in imbricated formation in the conveying direction A. Theprinted products 2 are moved, by the conveying means 1, into the endregion 3 of the latter, where the movement of the printed products 2 inthe conveying direction A terminates and a pivoting movement about theaxis B, which extends parallel to the conveying direction A, commences.The pivot axis B may coincide with an edge of the products 2 which runsin the conveying direction A; however, it is also possible—as isillustrated in FIG. 1—for it to be spaced apart from the abovementionededge.

[0039]FIG. 1 shows that, at the beginning of the pivoting movement,gravitational force being overcome in the process, the products 2 haveto be raised by the conveying means 1 over an angle range ofapproximately 90° until they are located essentially vertically,whereupon further processes may then commence, these further processesbeing explained by way of example in conjunction with the followingfigures.

[0040]FIG. 2 shows a variant of the method according to FIG. 1, in thecase of which products 2 transported up horizontally in direction A arepivoted upward through approximately 90° about a product edge 4 runningin the conveying direction A, with the result that this pivotingmovement takes up less space than the pivoting movement according toFIG. 1. The products 2 pivoted upward in the abovementioned manner arethen conveyed further in direction C in essentially vertically alignmentand at a space from one another, the direction C extendingperpendicularly to the direction A. The conveying movement in directionC can be brought about, for example, by means of grippers (notillustrated) which grip the products 2 at their top product edge 5, withthe result that the products 2 can be transported in the hanging statein direction C.

[0041]FIG. 3 likewise shows products 2 which are transported up indirection A and—as is also the case with the products according to FIGS.1 and 2—are conveyed in imbricated formation. These products 2 arepivoted upward through somewhat more than 90° about a pivot axis B,which means that for the pivoting movement, in respect of the first 90°,gravitational force has to be overcome, while the rest of the pivotingmovement, which extends approximately over an angle range of between 10°and 20°, is assisted by gravitational force.

[0042] At the end of this pivoting movement assisted by gravitationalforce, the products 2 are deposited on a conveying means 6, in whichcase they are positioned with their surface area against said conveyingmeans 6 and are supported at their bottom edge 4 via a supporting lug 7,which extends essentially perpendicularly to the conveying means 6and/or to the plane of the products 2. The conveying means 6 thuscontinues to convey the products 2 in direction A, albeit with obliquelyupright, rather than horizontal, orientation.

[0043] FIGS. 4 to 7 each show a second method step of the methodaccording to the invention, this step immediately following theoperation of raising the products 2 which takes place by overcominggravitational force. In all the method steps according to FIGS. 4 to 7,the products 2 are pivoted further, assisted by gravitational force,through at least 90°.

[0044]FIG. 4 shows that the products 2 pivoted upward according to theinvention can be deposited, for example, on a stack 8 by a furtherpivoting operation, assisted by gravitational force, throughapproximately 90°. For further processing, this stack 8 can then beseparated, for example, in the downward direction (arrow D). It is alsopossible, however, for stackwise further processing to take place in thedirection of the arrow E.

[0045]FIG. 5 shows a pivoting operation, which follows the upwardpivoting operation according to the invention and is assisted bygravitational force, about the pivot axis B not just over an angle rangeof 90° but over an angle range of 180°. At the same time, during thepivoting of the products 2, which according to FIG. 5 are designed asfolded products, these products 2 are opened. In order to allow thisopening operation, during the pivoting movement, the products 2 have tohave their fold region 9 oriented in the radially inward direction, withthe result that the bloom 10 of the products 2 ends up in the radiallyoutward direction during the pivoting movement.

[0046] According to FIG. 5, the products 2 are thus pivoted out of anessentially vertical position in which the fold region 9 ends up at thebottom into an again essentially vertical position, although in thiscase the fold region 9 ends up at the top and the bloom 10, which is nowlocated at the bottom, is open.

[0047] Such open products 2 having the bloom 10 oriented downward caneasily be deposited, at the end of the second method step illustrated inFIG. 5, on a schematically illustrated saddle conveyor 11, which thentransports the products 2 in direction F, preferably perpendicular tothe conveying direction A of the conveying process prior to theoperation of raising the products 2 according to the invention.

[0048]FIG. 6 shows an operation, which corresponds essentially to FIG. 4and is assisted by gravitational force, of pivoting the products 2downward through approximately 90° and illustrates that, following thissecond method step, it is also possible to use a further conveying means12, which continues to transport the products 2 in direction A of thefirst conveying means 1 (not illustrated in FIG. 6), there being nochange in respect of the leading edge 13 between the first conveyingmeans 1 and the further conveying means 12. It would also be possible,however, for the further conveying means 12 to be operated in thereverse direction, with the result that the products 2 are transportedcounter to the direction A by this conveying means 12.

[0049] Alternatively, it is also possible, as is indicated by dashedlines in FIG. 6, to provide a further conveying means 14 which,following the pivoting movement, transports the products 2 in thedirection of the arrow E, the direction E being oriented perpendicularlyto the direction A.

[0050]FIG. 7 illustrates that the further conveying means 14 accordingto FIG. 6, by virtue of being straightforwardly switched over, can alsoproduce a product stream running in direction F, the direction F beingoriented counter to the direction E according to FIG. 6.

[0051]FIG. 7 also illustrates that, by virtue of the two method stepsaccording to the invention of raising the products 2 and then depositingthem, it is possible to achieve the situation where a longer edge 15leads in the region of the further conveying means 14, whereas, in thecase of the preceding conveying process running in direction A, ashorter edge 16 leads. The method according to the invention can thusachieve the situation where a product 2 which is transported up with theshorter edge 16 leading can be transported further with a longer edge 15leading.

[0052] It is conceivable, for example at the end of the furtherconveying means 14, also to provide a further apparatus for implementingthe method according to the invention, which further apparatus couldthen, in turn, cause the products 2 to be transported further by a thirdconveying means with their shorter edge 16 leading or with the shorteredge 17, which is located opposite said shorter edge 16, leading.

[0053]FIG. 8 shows the end of a conveying means 1, which can be usedwithin the context of the invention, with a wedge-shaped guide element18 arranged in its end region.

[0054] By virtue of the movement of the products 2 in conveyingdirection A, the outer region of the leading edge 13 of the products 2,in relation to the following pivoting movement, moves upward along theguide element 18 and thus lifts off from the conveying means 1. Theguide element 18 thus initiates the operation of raising the products 2according to the invention and makes it possible for the products 2 tobe gripped at their leading edge 13 by means of grippers (notillustrated).

[0055]FIG. 9 shows that, as an alternative to the guide element 18according to FIG. 8, it is also possible to provide a stop 19 againstwhich the leading edge 13 of the products 2 strikes on account of theconveying process brought about by the conveying means 1. The continuedtransporting movement of the product 2 then causes the product 2 tobulge out in the direction of the intended pivoting movement. Thisbulging out thus likewise initiates the pivoting movement according tothe invention and makes it possible for the products 2 to be gripped attheir leading edge 13.

[0056]FIG. 10 also shows the method according to FIG. 9, although inthis case the products 2 are not pivoted directly about one of theirlonger edges. Rather, the pivoting movement takes place such that theradially inner longer edges of the products 2 are spaced apart from thepivot axis B.

[0057]FIG. 11 shows an upward pivoting operation through 90° accordingto the invention, which is guided by means of grippers, and a subsequentfurther pivoting operation aided by gravitational force.

[0058] The products 2 are transported up in the conveying direction A inimbricated formation by the conveying means 1, the products beingpositioned on the conveying means 1 such that both their bloom 10 andtheir fold region 9 run parallel to the conveying direction A.

[0059] At the end of the conveying means 1, the pivoting movementaccording to the invention is then initiated by means of a stop 19 (seeFIGS. 9 and 10). The rest of the pivoting movement is brought about,according to FIG. 11, essentially by two gripper fingers 20, 21, whichpivot along with the products 2. At the beginning of the pivotingmovement, the opening and/or spreading element 22 is introduced into thealready slightly open product 2, whereupon the two gripper fingers 20,21 are then closed, with the result that the product 2 is retainedbetween the two gripper fingers 20, 21. During the subsequent pivotingmovement, which the products 2, gripper fingers 20, 21 and openingand/or spreading element 22 execute together, further opening of theproducts 2 is achieved by virtue of the opening and/or spreadingelements 22 being rotated, with the result that, at the end of thepivoting movement, for example, the products 2 can easily be positioned(not illustrated) on a saddle conveyor. For such a positioningoperation, however, it is necessary for the products to be pivotedthrough a total of approximately 270°, with the result that the openbloom 10 of the products is oriented downward. As soon as the openproducts 2 are positioned above a saddle conveyor—aligned with a rest ofthe same—the gripper fingers 20, 21 are opened, with the result that theproduct 2 can drop onto a saddle-like rest.

[0060]FIG. 12 illustrates an alternative method to FIG. 11 of openingthe products 2 which are taking part in the pivoting process accordingto the invention.

[0061] According to FIG. 12, the products 2 are first of all gripped bythe two gripper fingers 20, 21 in the region of their leading edge 13,in relation to the conveying means 1. While the subsequent pivotingmovement is executed, an opening and/or spreading element 23 is thenmoved into the bloom 10 of the products 2, in the direction of the foldregion 9 of the latter, perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction ofthe bloom 10, with the result that the bloom 10 is opened in this way.

[0062] The operation of opening products 2 according to FIGS. 11 and 12can be carried out on products 2 with or without an overfold, in orderto allow subsequent processing of the products 2.

1. A method of raising sheet-like products (2), in particular printedproducts, which are taking part in a conveying process and followsequentially one after the other, the products (2) resting, at least incertain regions, on a conveying means (1) during the conveying process,wherein, for at least a period of time of the raising operation,gravitational force being overcome in the process, the products (2) arepivoted actively about an axis (B) which extends essentially parallel tothe direction (A) in which the conveying process is oriented immediatelyprior to the raising operation.
 2. The method as claimed in claim 1,wherein the pivot axis (B) coincides at least essentially with a productedge (9) which extends parallel to the direction (A) in which theconveying process is oriented immediately prior to the raisingoperation.
 3. The method as claimed in one of the preceding claims,wherein, immediately prior to the beginning of the raising operation,the products (2) are oriented horizontally or in a manner inclined inrelation to the horizontal.
 4. The method as claimed in one of thepreceding claims, wherein, during the raising operation, the products(2) are pivoted through an angle between 10° and 90°.
 5. The method asclaimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein, at least during theraising operation, the products (2) are retained, in particular at theirleading edge (13), as seen in the conveying direction (A), by supportingmeans or grippers (20, 21) which cause the products (2) to pivot.
 6. Themethod as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein, at thebeginning of the raising operation, the products (2) are moved, by wayof their leading edge (13), against an in particular stationary stop(19), with the result that the products (2), at least in certainregions, lift off from the conveying means (1) in the pivotingdirection.
 7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein, at thebeginning of the raising operation, products having an overfold are onlymoved against a stop (19) by way of the leading edge (13) of theiroverfold region, with the result that that region of the products (2)which is located opposite the overfold lifts off from the overfoldregion in the pivoting direction and the products (2) are made to open.8. The method as claimed in one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, at thebeginning of the raising operation, the products (2) are moved, by wayof their leading edge (13), along an in particular stationary guideelement (18), with the result that the products (2), at least in certainregions, lift off from the conveying means (1) in the pivotingdirection.
 9. The method as claimed in one of the preceding claims,wherein, during the conveying process, the products (2) are transportedin imbricated formation.
 10. The method as claimed in one of thepreceding claims, wherein, once they have been raised into an at leastessentially vertically oriented position, the products (2) are eachgripped individually by grippers, in particular at their upwardlyoriented edge (5), and fed for further processing.
 11. The method asclaimed in claim 10, wherein the conveying direction (C) of the grippersruns essentially perpendicularly to the direction (A) in which theconveying process is oriented immediately prior to the raisingoperation.
 12. The method as claimed in one of the preceding claims,wherein, once they have been raised into an at least essentiallyvertically oriented position, the products (2) are pivoted downward,assisted by gravitational force, about the pivot axis (B) of the raisingoperation, in particular through an angle range of between 90° and 180°,and are thus deposited.
 13. The method as claimed in one of thepreceding claims, wherein, during the pivoting movement, the products(2) are processed, in particular opened, stapled, cut or addressed. 14.The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein, during the pivotingmovement, folded products (2) are opened, the fold region (9) of theproducts (2) ending up in the radially inward direction in relation tothe pivoting movement.
 15. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein,during the pivoting movement, already open products (2) have furtherproducts inserted into them.
 16. The method as claimed in one of thepreceding claims, wherein the products (2) are deposited on a furtherconveying means (6, 11, 12, 14) or a product stack (8).
 17. The methodas claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the conveyingdirection (F, E) of the further conveying means (11, 14) runsessentially perpendicularly to the direction (A) in which the conveyingprocess is oriented immediately prior to the raising operation.
 18. Themethod as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the products(2) are deposited on a pocket and/or saddle conveyor (11) or on aconveying belt (6, 12, 14).
 19. An apparatus for raising sheet-likeproducts, in particular printed products, which are taking part in aconveying process and follow sequentially one after the other, having aconveying means (1) by means of which the products (2) resting on it areto be conveyed in a direction (A), at least in certain regions duringthe conveying process, which comprises supporting means or grippers (20)which run around an axis (B), running essentially parallel to thedirection (A) in which the conveying process is oriented immediatelyprior to the raising operation, and by means of which, at least duringthe raising operation, the products (2) are to be retained, inparticular at their leading edge (13), as seen in the conveyingdirection (A), and pivoted about the axis (B).